Wayland Baptist University Photo Several Wayland faculty and staff members received special recognition at the annual Faculty and Staff Awards Luncheon on Thursday. Award winner were Dr. Andrew Kasner (back ... more

Wayland recognizes employees at luncheon

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Wayland Baptist University took time out Thursday afternoon to recognize its employees for their years of service, as well as giving special recognition to those faculty and staff members who have gone above and beyond to serve Wayland and the community.

Wayland President Dr. Paul Armes welcomed those attending the annual Faculty and Staff Awards Luncheon. He then proceeded to hand out “happies,” so-named by Armes, recognizing employees who have been at the university for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years. Each employee received a certificate of service and commemorative lapel pin.

Armes then recognized those who will be retiring at the end of the academic year. Dr. Gary Belshaw will retire from the School of Music. Belshaw serves as a professor of music composition and is the university organist. He received recognition earlier in the program for serving at Wayland for 15 years. Marilyn Edwards, the administrative assistant in the School of Math and Sciences, is also retiring, as is Jimmy Fikes, assistant professor of management information systems, Dr. Carolyn Ratcliffe, professor of religion, Geneva Tipton, administrative assistant for property management, and Cathy Ward, records secretary at Wayland’s San Antonio campus.

Each year Wayland nominates one faculty member as the school’s representative for the Piper Professor Award, a statewide award that seeks to recognize those professors who excel in the classroom and show dedication to their profession. This year’s nominee is Dr. Gary Gray, professor of chemistry.

The Wayland Alumni Association handed out awards for outstanding service to a faculty member, staff member and an external campus employee. Dr. Otto B. Schacht was the faculty award recipient. A professor in the School of Business, Schacht has been with Wayland since 1999. Bertha Sistrunk, who works in the business office, was the staff recipient, and James Tudman from the Amarillo campus was the external campus award recipient.

The university then recognized staff members with several special awards. The University Service Award went to Daniel Brown, associate registrar and director of the BAS/BCM office. The Community Service Award went to Randee Sepeda who works in the Business Office. Perri McDonald the scholarship coordinator in the Financial Aid Office, received the Campus/Student Involvement Award. Carol Gamboa in the human resource office was awarded for Excellence, and Tudman received the Excellence Award for external campuses.

The faculty awards were the next to be handed out. Dr. Adam Reinhart, professor of biological sciences and chemistry, received the University Service Award. Dr. Charles Starnes, associate dean in the School of Business and professor of economics, received the Community Service Award. The Scholarship Award that goes to a faculty member who shows a high level of commitment to academics went to Dr. Cindy McClenagan, dean of the School of Languages and Literature. Dr. Andrew Kasner, professor of biological sciences, was recognized for his Contribution to the Profession.